One of the most influential vocalists in the history of metal, Ronnie James Dio set out on his own in 1982 after three successful albums with Rainbow and two more with Black Sabbath to lead his own band, Dio. Known for their theatrical, high fantasy lyrical content, stage sets, costuming and album art, as well as the grandiose stage presence and vocal performance of their diminutive leader, Dio released 10 studio albums and numerous live albums over about 20 years. Sadly, Ronnie died of stomach cancer in 2010. His legacy can be heard in countless bands, both his vocal influence and his writing which championed the weak and the suffering, promising hope of redemption, and he's been covered by a host of top notch metal bands: Metallica, Anthrax, Yngwie Malmsteen, Motörhead, Fates Warning, Tenacious D, Scorpions, Blind Guardian, Stryper, Doro, Jag Panzer, Stratovarius, Killswitch Engage, Gamma Ray, Dan Swanö, Adrenaline Mob, Halestorm, Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Rob Halford of Judas Priest to name a few.
Dio (both the band and the man) had a number of terrific albums, but the solo debut Holy Diver stands apart as a classic and is widely regarded as one of the best metal albums of all time. Featuring a rhythm section from his past (drummer Vinny Appice of Black Sabbath and bassist Jimmy Bain from Rainbow) and up-and-coming Irish guitar shredder Vivian Campbell, the playing is as strong as the writing from beginning to end. While "Rainbow in the Dark" was the album's biggest hit, I was always partial to the head-bob-inducing title track, included below. Enjoy, especially Ronnie's captivating vocal performance.
No comments:
Post a Comment